Internal-combustion engine



June 8 1926.

L. M. WOOLSON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Feb. 23, 1924 3144 1211 l'ob 1; wwwlmalsom Patented June 8, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LIONEL M. WOOLSON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB. T0 PACKARD MOTOR CAR COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application filed February 23, 1924. Serial No. 694,529.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines and particularly to valve mechanism therefor.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a sliding valve which shall be simple in construction and quiet and efficient in operation..

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a sliding valve with means for operat-- ing it that shall consume very little energy.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sliding valve which shallalso form the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine.

Another object of the invention is ,to provide a sliding valve that will have a Wabbling movement so that scoring will not take place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spherical valve with a generally reciprocating movement in one direction and a slight sidewise movement to prevent scormg.

Oth 1' objects of the invention will appear from t e following description taken in connection with the drawings, which form a part of. this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an internal combustion engine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 3 is a plan viewof the engine shown in the other figures, and' Fig. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic illusstration of the mechanism for driving the cam Which operates the valve of the engine.

Referring to the drawings, represents a cylinder of an internal combustion engine and 11 is a carburetor adapted to supply mixture to the engine. 'The intake pipe from the carburetor is indicated at 12 and the exhaust pipe is shown at 13, in Fig. 2.

The engine is shown as formed of a cylinder cast ng 14 and a detachable head casting 15. The engine spark plug is shown at 16 in Fig. 2. One of the engine pistons is indicated at 17 and it will be understood lar in cross section and as shown in the drawings it is spherical in form. This spherical surface is indicated at 19. There are two lateral ports in the cylinder head, an intake port 20 and an exhaust. port 21., by Which the engine issupplied with mixture from the carburetor 11 and through which the burnt gas is .exhausted. The operation .is on the Well-known four stroke cycle, that is, an intake stroke with the port 20 open, a compression stroke with both portsclosed, a firing or power stroke with both ports closed, and an exhaust stroke with the port 21 open.

These ports are controlled by a valve 22- Which is preferably of spherical form and adapted to fit the spherical surface 19 of the cylinder head. Thisvalve is adapted to slide or oscillate in the cylinder head about the center point 00 indicated in Fig .2. The'valve is shown in full lines in mid position when both ports 20 and 21 are closed and it will be understood that it remains in this position, or substantially so, during the compression and firing strokes of the engine. In one of the dot-and-dash positions the valve is shown at one extreme of its movement so that the port 20'is open and the other port is closed and in the other dot-and-dash position the port 21 is shown as open and the port 20 is closed.

The cylinder head is formed with a slot 23 in its upper end through which projects an operating arm 24 shown as an integral part of the valve 22. The slot is long enough to permit the full movement of the valve 22 and it is slightly wider than the thickness of the arm 24 so that the arm 24-may move sidewise slightly as it is reciprocated in the slot. 7

A spring 25 having one end in contact with the plate 26 on top of the cylinder head and the other end in contact with the plate 27 abutting against a pin 28 through the arm 24, tends to retain the valve 22 on its seat in the cylinder head. This spring pressure is suflicient to retain the valve against suction of the engine.

Means for operating the valve comprises a cam block 29 on a shaft 30 and a cam groove 31 in which a ball 32 on the upper end of the arm 24 is arranged. The cam groove 31 is so formed in the block 29 that the arm 24 is oscillated lengthwise of the slot 23 to all till

give the valve 22 the required port opening and closing movements. For the purpose of also giving the arm 24 a slight sidewise movement so that scoring of the valve may be prevented, a bell crank lever 83 is pivoted at 34- on an arm 35 and provided with a pin 36 operating in a cam groove 37 on the block 29. This bell crank lever 33 is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and the diagonal arrangement of the cam groove 37 may be observed. As the arm 24: is oscillated lengthwise of the slot 23 the bell crank lever 33 also gives it a slight sidewise movement so that the combined movement of the arm 24- is a long elliptical path. This tends to make polished surfaces between the valve and the interior 19 of the cylinder head sothat a good fit will be maintained bet-ween the valve and the head.

The camshaft 30 is mounted inbearings 38 in supporting posts 33 and is driven throiwh bevel gears 4-0 from a vertical shaft i1. is shown in Fig. 4, the vertical shaft is driven through a pair of bevel gears 4-2 and a pair of tWo-to-one spur gears 43 from the camshaft 18, above referred to. This provides for the half-time operation of the shaft 30 so that the engine will be operated on the four stroke cycle.

While I have herein described in some detail a specific embodiment of my invention, which I deem to be new and advantageous and may specifically claim, I do not desire it to be understood that my invention is limited to the exact details of the construction, as it will be apparent that changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an internal combustion engine, the

combination of a valve, means to oscillate said valve for its control movements, and means for giving said valve a secondary movement for preventing scoring of the valve.

r 2. In an internal combustion engine, the combinationof a valve having a contact surface circular in cross section, and means for moving said valve to give it a general oscillating movement with a relatively small side movement.

3.- In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a spherical valve, means for oscillating said valve for its control movement, and means for giving the valve a slight endwise movement.

4:. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a valve and cam means on a nae'neva single shaft for movin the valve in a substantially elliptical pati.

5. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a spherical valve, cam means to oscillate said valve for its control movement, and coaxial cam means to oscillate said valve in a plane at an angle to said first oscillatory movement.

6. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a spherical head, a spherical valve member mounted therein and forming a combustion chamber therefor, an arm secured to the valve member and passing thru the head, cam means driven from the engine and operable on said arm to oscillate said valve member in timed relation to the engine and guide means for said arm movable by said engine.

7. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a spherical head, a spherical valve member mounted therein and forming a combustion chamber therefor, an arm secured to the valve member and passing thru the head, cam means driven from the engine and operable on said arm to'oscillatc said valve member in timed relation to the engine, a. slotted guide for said arm and cam means to move said guide laterally of its slot.

8. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a spherical head, a spherical valve member mounted therein and forming a combustion chamber therefor, an arm secured to the valve member and passing thru the head,'cam means driven from the engine and operable on said arm to oscillate said valve member in timed relation to the engine, a lever pivoted to said head and hav ing a bifurcated end, the furcations engaging said arm to guide it, and means to oscillate said lever in a plane at an angle to the plane of oscillation of said arm under the action of its cam.

9. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a spherical head, a spherical valve member mounted therein and forming a combustion chamber therefor, an arm secured to the valve member and passing thru the head, cam means driven from the engine and operable on said cam to oscillate said valve member in timed relation to the engine. a lever pivoted to said head and having a bifurcated end. the furcations engaging said arm to guide it, and cam means to oscillate said lever in a plane at an angle to the plane of oscillation of said arm under the action of its cam.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LIONEL M. WOOIIASQN. 

